Liner assembly and water pool incorporating the same

ABSTRACT

A liner assembly for use with a receptacle, such as a whiskey barrel, is provided. The assembly includes a liner, a plurality of connector elements disposed thereon, and a stiff, yet flexible band securable to the liner via the connectors. The liner is formed of a flexible, water-proof material having a bottom panel portion and a surrounding sidewall portion extending upwardly therefrom terminating in a liner edge to define a mouth. When disposed in the receptacle, the liner walls confront the interior walls of the receptacle with the mouth of the liner being maintained in an open condition by the band. The band may be formed of fiberglass and include a first end portion and a second end portion coupled together and maintained in a generally annular configuration of a selected diameter by a coupling member. A water pool assembly, which includes the liner assembly, is also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people enjoy spending time in their back yards or around thepremises of their domicile. As such, many hire landscapers or simplychoose to work in their back yards, weeding, planting, and keeping theirgrounds manicured and pleasant.

Water pools, such as water gardens are becoming a very attractiveaddition for many backyards and patios and particularly those havingwater pumps, which power fountains or other water accessory item toprovide movement to the water. Water gardens can be elaborate andincorporate waterfalls, lights, rockwork, and even fish. Alternatively,water gardens can be quite simple and include a conventional,submersible water pump connected to simple or decorative nozzles withvarious aquatic plants.

Whether elaborate or simplistic, water gardens are easy to take care ofin that there is little weeding or water involved, while at the sametime, these gardens can produce vibrantly colored and fragrant liliesand other aquatic flowers that are enjoyable. Coupled with therelaxation and comfort many tend to find from the sound of moving water,the water garden industry is increasing in popularity.

Above ground water gardens that make efficient use of space are perhapsideal for those with limited space for landscaping. Many kits can bepurchased for constructing such above-ground water gardens from whiskeybarrels, or other similar vessel or water containing receptacle.Submersible pumps attached to fountains, decorative nozzles, or spittersare also associated with these whiskey barrel water gardens.

Since whiskey barrels and other similar receptacles are not waterproof,they are provided with liners, such as pool liners or other plastic orrubber liners. Since these receptacles vary both in size andconfiguration, there remains a need to provide a liner that canaccommodate a variety of receptacles. Further, since receptacles such aswhiskey barrels are of limited size, there is a need to organize thevarious desired components or aspects associated with the water gardento maximize the limited space and improve its overall aesthetic appeal.The present invention is directed to meeting these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to a liner assembly adapted for use with aportion of a receptacle that has a receptacle bottom and a surroundingreceptacle sidewall extending upwardly therefrom to define a receptacleinterior. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, this liner assemblyhas a liner that is formed of a flexible, waterproof material. The linerincludes a bottom panel portion and a surrounding liner sidewall portionextending upwardly therefrom to terminate in a liner edge to define amouth. The liner is sized and adapted to fit in the interior of thereceptacle with the bottom panel portion confronting the receptaclebottom and with the liner sidewall portion confronting the receptaclesidewall.

The liner assembly is associated with a plurality of connector elementsdisposed on a margin of the liner sidewall portion at a locationproximate to the edge thereof. The liner assembly is further associatedwith a stiff yet flexible and resilient band adapted to be secured tothe liner by the connector element. The band is sized and adapted toextend around the liner sidewall portion in a spaced apart relation tothe bottom panel portion thereby to hold the mouth of the liner in anopen condition.

The connector elements associated with the liner assembly may include afirst set of loops disposed at spaced locations around the linersidewall at a first distance from the liner edge. The connector elementsmay also include a second set of loops disposed at spaced locationsaround the liner sidewall at a second distance from the liner edge thatis different from the first distance. The band may be adjustable in sizeand further may include a first end portion and an opposite second endportion. A coupling member operated to couple the first and second endportions may be provided such that the first and second end portions maybe overlapped to configure the band in a generally annular configurationof a selected diameter.

In the exemplary embodiment, the coupling member includes a clamp thathas a head portion with essential opening formed therethrough. Thecoupling member also includes a pair of spaced apart jaw portionsextending from the head portion in opposed relation to one anotherthereby to form a gap therebetween. The first and second end portions ofthe band may then overlap one another in the gap and in the centralopening as confronting band sections. The coupling member may also beprovided with a collar that is adapted to surround the jaw portions ofthe clamp and operative to compress the jaw portions toward one anotherthereby to retain the respective diameter of the band.

In addition to disclosing a liner assembly, a water pool assembly thatis adapted to hold a selected quantity of water is also illustrated. Thewater pool assembly includes a barrel section having a barrel bottomwall and a surrounding barrel sidewall extending upwardly therefrom todefine a barrel interior. A liner assembly associated with some or allof the aspects described above may be disposed in the barrel interiorsuch that the liner sidewall portion confronts the barrel sidewall whilethe liner bottom panel portion confronts the barrel bottom.

In addition, if desired, the water pool assembly may be associated witha fountain supported by the barrel sidewall and a recirculating pumpthat is adapted to be disposed on the bottom panel portion of the liner.The fountain is associated with a hose that is in fluid communicationwith the pump whereby the pump is operative to pump water through thefountain. The liner may be further associated with a cover piece securedto the bottom panel portion thereof and that is sized and adapted toconceal at least a portion of the pump. As illustrated in the exemplaryembodiment, the liner may be provided with a first pair of strapssecured to the liner sidewall and adapted to secure the pump hosethereto. A second pair of straps, spaced apart from the firs pair ofstraps, may also be provided to secure the hose thereto.

The following is a detailed description of the exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention when taken together with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water pool assembly according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the water pool assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in cross-section of the liner assembly taken aboutlines 3-3 of FIG. 2 shown with a recirculating pump, pump hose, and anelectrical cord;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view, partially cut away, of the barrel, linerassembly, recirculating pump, pump hose, and electrical cord;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the band and coupling member accordingto the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the coupling member and the confrontingband sections shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the two end portions of the band, theclamp, and the collar of the coupling member;

FIG. 8 is perspective exploded view of the coupling member according tothe exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view in cross-section of the coupling member;

FIG. 10 is a side view in elevation of the clamp;

FIG. 11 is a side view in elevation of the clamp and confronting bandportions received therein; and

FIG. 12 is a side view in elevation of the coupling member shownretaining the confronting band portions at a selected location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The illustrated embodiment herein relates to waterproof liners usefulfor lining receptacles for the containment of a selected quantify ofwater, such as whiskey barrels, which may be used to create decorativewater gardens. However, it should be understood that the conceptsdescribed herein are applicable to any type of impermeable liner forlining receptacles, pools, ponds, or other container adapted for thecontainment of liquid, such as water.

With reference, then to FIG. 1, a water pool in the form of a decorativewater garden 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Here, water garden 10 includesreceptacle 12, in the form of a whiskey barrel, which contains water andaquatic plants such as lily 14 floating on the water surface, cattails16, and grass 18. The water garden may include real or faux plant life,as desired, and may further include fish or other water gardeningaccessories such as rocks and decorative pebbles, snails, and the like.As should be appreciated, a whisky barrel, as shown here, is forexemplary purposes only and any suitable receptacle that can accommodatethe liner described below, may be used.

With continued reference to FIG. 1 and with additional reference to FIG.2, barrel 12 includes surrounding barrel sidewall 22 formed by aplurality of wooden barrel staves 13 extending upwardly from bottom wall21 (also shown in FIG. 4) to terminate in a continuously extendingcircumferential top edge 24 and defining a barrel interior 26. Liner 42,associated with liner assembly 40, is disposed in the interior 26 ofbarrel 12 thereby allowing barrel 12 to receive and contain a selectedamount of water for the garden.

Fountain 28, shown here in the form of an antique water pump, isreleasably secured to top edge 24 of barrel 12 by means of a bracket,which is described in provisional application Ser. No. 60/594,733 filedMay 2, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference. Pump 30 includeselectrical cord 34 that can be plugged into an electrical outlet. Whensubmerged in barrel 12 and activated, pump 30 pumps water from withinbarrel 12 and through fountain 28. The water is then dispensed throughspout 36, as shown in FIG. 1, and returned back to barrel 12.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, and now with additional reference toFIG. 3, liner assembly 40 is associated with bag-like liner 42, which isformed of a flexible, water-proof material, such as PVC. Liner 42includes bottom panel portion 44 and a surrounding liner sidewallportion 46 extending upwardly therefrom to terminate in a liner edge 48to define a mouth communicating with the interior thereof. Liner 42 issized and adapted to fit in the interior 26 of barrel 12 such that whendisposed therein, liner bottom panel portion 44 confronts barrel bottompanel 21 while liner sidewall portion 46 confronts barrel sidewall 22.

With reference to FIGS. 2 through 4, liner assembly 40 may be associatedwith cover 54 as well as retaining members 56 and 58, shown here as afirst and second pair of straps. Cover 54 may be a piece of materialdisposed on bottom panel portion 44 of the liner in the form of an arch.Cover 54 may be formed of the same material and color as bottom panelportion 44. In this way, pump 30 can be disposed underneath arched cover54 thereby to conceal a portion thereof from view as shown in FIGS. 3and 4.

Retaining members in the form of straps 56 and 58 are disposed on linersidewall portion 46 and, as shown here, may be formed of two strapmembers such as first strap member 60 and second strap member 62. Bothstrap members 60 and 62 may further be provided with matable fasteners,shown here in the form of matable snaps 64 and 66. When joined together,strap members 60 and 62 form a loop sized and adapted to retain bothpump hose 32 and electrical cord 34 against sidewall portion 46.Retaining both the hose and electrical cord against the sidewall in thisway keeps these aspects of the pump stationary, makes efficient use ofthe size of the receptacle within which they are placed, and provides amore aesthetic presentation of the water pool.

As should be appreciated, liner assembly 40 may include differentaspects or construction that accomplish that of either the cover 54 orstraps 56, 58. For example, cover 54 could be a casing in the form of ashell having an appropriate color, that is not secured to the bottompanel portion, but that is simply seated thereon and that is sized andadapted to received the pump therein or thereunder. Further, straps 60and 62 may vary in number as desired and may be of a loop constructionwithout a need for fasteners. Alternatively, if provided with fasteners,it should be appreciated that any matable fasteners is herebycontemplated including ties, hooks and eyes, and buttons and openings,and the like.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2-4, liner assembly 40 is providedwith a plurality of connector elements 50 and 52 disposed on a margin ofliner sidewall portion 46 proximate to liner edge 48. Connector elements50 and 52 are in the form of a first set of loops 50 disposed at spacedlocation around the liner on the margin at a first distance from lineredge 48, while connector elements 52 are in the form of a second set ofloops disposed at spaced locations on the margin at a second distancefrom liner edge 48, which is greater than the first distance. Connectorelements 50 and 52 are adapted to receive band 70 therethrough therebyto secure it to liner sidewall portion 46 to define a mounted state.

Band 70, is a stiff yet flexible and resilient band and is sized andadapted to extend around liner sidewall portion 46 in spaced-apartrelation to bottom panel portion 44. Band 70 is of sufficient resiliencysuch that when in the mounted state, it holds the margin against barrelsidewall 22 when liner assembly 40 is disposed therein and hold themouth of the liner in an open condition. Either the first set of loops50 or the second set of loops 52 may be used to secure band 70, theselection of which depends upon the size of receptacle in which theliner assembly is to be placed. Here, band 70 has been fed through thefirst set of loops 50 to accommodate the size of barrel 12. In the eventthat a smaller receptacle is used, the second set of loops 52 for thepurpose of securing the band.

Band 70 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 5-7. Band 70 may be formed ofany suitable material, such as fiberglass, sufficient to hold the marginof the liner against the barrel sidewall as shown and described above.As shown, band 70 is a strip of material of a selected length having afirst end portion 72 and an opposite second end portion 74, which canthen be shaped into a generally annular configuration of a selecteddiameter by overlapping the first and second end portions 72 and 74,forming an overlap area 76. The selected diameter of band 70 is retainedby coupling member 80.

With continued reference to FIGS. 5-7, coupling member 80 is formed oftwo components, clamp 82 located on a first end portion 72 of the bandand collar 92 located on second end portion 74 of the band. Withadditional reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, clamp 82 includes head portion 84having a central opening 83 formed therethrough, and a pair ofspaced-apart jaw portions 86. Jaw portions 86 extend longitudinally fromhead portion 84 in opposed relation to one another forming gap 87therebetween. Each of jaw portions 86 includes stopper 73 and spacedapart retaining tabs 75 and 77, the aspects of which will be describedbelow.

Collar 92 includes a central collar opening 93 that is sized and adaptedto receive head portion 84 of the clamp. Once supported by clamp 82,collar 92 may be moved along the length of jaw portions 86 up to and inconfronting relation with stoppers 73. Stoppers 73 retain collar 92thereon such that collar 92 can not move beyond stoppers 73. Tabs 75 and77 assist in maintaining collar 92 on clamp 82, but preferably are notof a size or configuration to inhibit the separation of collar 92 fromthe clamp via the head portion 84.

With this structure in mind, then, and turning now to FIGS. 10-12, jawportions 86 of clamp 82 are separated a distance d₁ when unencumbered bycollar 92. When received by clamp 82, first and second end portions 72and 74 of the band extend through the central opening in head portion 84and gap 87 as confronting band sections. Due to the resilient nature ofthe band, the band sections 72 and 74 press against jaw portions 86separating them a distance d₂, which is greater than distance d₁. Whenplaced thereon, collar 92 surrounds jaw portions 86 and compresses themtoward one another such that the distance between them returns toapproximately a distance of d₁ thereby retaining coupling member 80 at aselected location of the overlap area of band sections.

Returning now to FIGS. 5-7, then, it may better be appreciated that thediameter of band 70 may vary as desired simply by passing a selectedlength of end sections 72 and 74 through clamp 82. The selecteddiameter, then, can be retained by positioning collar 92 so as tosurround jaw portions 86.

Accordingly, the embodiment of the present invention has been describedwith some degree of particularity. It should be appreciated, though,that the scope of the claimed invention is set forth in the followingclaims such that the exemplary embodiment should not limit the scope ofthe invention. That is, it should be clearly understood thatmodifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention without departing from the inventive conceptscontained herein.

1. A liner assembly adapted for use with a portion of a receptacle that has a receptacle bottom and a surrounding receptacle sidewall extending upwardly therefrom to define a receptacle interior, comprising: (A) a liner formed of a flexible, water-proof material and including a bottom panel portion and a surrounding liner sidewall portion extending upwardly therefrom to terminate in a liner edge to define a mouth, said liner sized and adapted to fit in the interior of said receptacle with said bottom panel portion confronting the receptacle bottom and with said liner sidewall portion confronting the receptacle sidewall; (B) a plurality of connector elements disposed on a margin of said liner sidewall portion at a location proximate to the edge thereof; and (C) a stiff yet flexible and resilient band adapted to be secured to said liner by said connector elements, said band sized and adapted to extend around said liner sidewall portion in spaced-apart relation to said bottom panel portion thereby to hold the mouth of the liner in an open condition.
 2. A liner assembly according to claim 1 wherein said connector elements include: (A) a first set of loops disposed at spaced locations around said liner sidewall at a first distance from said liner edge; and (B) a second set of loops disposed at spaced locations around said liner sidewall at a second distance from said liner edge that is different from said first distance.
 3. A liner assembly according to claim 1 wherein said band is adjustable in size.
 4. A liner assembly according to claim 1 wherein said band has a first end portion and an opposite second end portion.
 5. A liner assembly according to claim 4 including a coupling member operative to couple said first and second end portions whereby said band is generally annular in configuration of a selected diameter.
 6. A liner assembly according to claim 5 wherein said coupling member includes (A) a clamp including (1) a head portion having a central opening therethrough; and (2) a pair of spaced-apart jaw portions extending from the head portion in opposed relation to one another thereby to form a gap therebetween, wherein said first and second end portions overlap one another in the gap and in the central opening as confronting band sections; and (B) a collar adapted to surround said jaw portions of said clamp and operative to compress said jaw portions toward one another thereby to retain the selected diameter.
 7. A liner assembly according to claim 1 wherein said band is formed of fiberglass.
 8. A water pool assembly adapted to hold a selected quantify of water, comprising: (A) a barrel section having a barrel bottom wall and a surrounding barrel sidewall extending upwardly therefrom to define a barrel interior; (B) a liner formed of a flexible, water-proof material and including a bottom panel portion and a surrounding liner sidewall portion extending upwardly therefrom to terminate in a liner edge, said liner sized and adapted to fit in the interior of said barrel section with said bottom panel portion confronting the barrel bottom and with said liner sidewall portion confronting the barrel sidewall; (C) a plurality of connector elements disposed on a margin said liner sidewall portion at a location proximate to the edge thereof; and (D) a stiff yet flexible and resilient band adapted to be secured to said liner by said connector elements in a mounted state, said band sized and adapted to extend around said liner sidewall portion in spaced-apart relation to said bottom panel portion, said band having sufficient resiliency to hold the margin against said barrel sidewall.
 9. A water pool assembly according to claim 8 including a fountain supported by said barrel sidewall and a recirculating pump adapted to be disposed on said bottom panel portion, said fountain including a hose in fluid communication with said pump whereby said pump is operative to pump water through said fountain.
 10. A water pool assembly according to claim 9 wherein said liner includes a cover piece secured to said bottom panel portion and sized and adapted to conceal a portion of said pump.
 11. A water pool assembly according to claim 9 wherein said liner includes a first pair of straps secured to said liner sidewall portion and adapted to secure said hose thereto.
 12. A water pool assembly according to claim 11 wherein said liner includes a second pair of straps secured to said liner sidewall portion in spaced relation to said first pair of straps and adapted to secure said hose thereto.
 13. A water pool assembly according to claim 8 wherein said connector elements include (A) a first set of loops disposed at spaced locations around said liner sidewall at a first distance from said liner edge; and (B) a second set of loops disposed at spaced locations around said liner sidewall at a second distance from said liner edge that is different from said first distance.
 14. A liner assembly according to claim 8 wherein said band is adjustable in size.
 15. A liner assembly according to claim 8 wherein said band has a first end portion and an opposite second end portion.
 16. A liner assembly according to claim 15 including a coupling member operative to couple said first and second end portions whereby said band is generally annular in configuration of a selected diameter.
 17. A liner assembly according to claim 16 wherein said coupling member includes (A) a clamp including (1) a head portion having a central opening therethrough; and (2) a pair of spaced-apart jaw portions extending from the head portion in opposed relation to one another thereby to form a gap therebetween, wherein said first and second end portions overlap one another in the gap and in the central opening as confronting band sections; and (B) a collar adapted to surround said jaw portions of said clamp and operative to compress said jaw portions toward one another thereby to retain the selected diameter. 